David Goloshchyokin: Jazz is born in performance

People's Artist of Russia David Goloshchyokin, composer and player of several instruments, shares his expectations of Koktebel Jazz Party 2017.

— What are your expectations for Koktebel Jazz Party 2017?

— Over the 56 years of my career, I have participated in many festivals all over the world. The atmosphere is similar everywhere because the audience consists of jazz lovers. Of course, the musicians always enjoy it.

Koktebel has a wonderful romantic vibe created by both the location and the climate. Of course I understand that it will be a meeting with people who have never seen me before and perhaps never heard my live concerts. But I hope that among the audience there will be many of my fans who know my band and me. I feel a little excitement about this show and thrilled to meet those people who love my music.

— For over 50 years, you have been winning audiences with you jazz music. Will this be your first show in Crimea?

— Of course I have played many times in Crimea over the years. I have been touring Crimea since the '60s, but I have never performed at Koktebel Jazz Party before, although I have heard a lot about it. I am glad to be invited this year.

— What will you perform at the festival and how will you surprise the audience?

— My performance will include both original pieces and famous jazz standards.

I think people know that the name David Goloshchyokin represents classical jazz and prefers to play classical jazz and jazz standards with little experimentation. Also, I'm often described as a conservator under a jazz cover, which makes me very happy. Yeah, I am conservative. The festival audience should expect to hear jazz classics especially because my band includes first-class jazz musicians who are well known in the field. They are Nikolai Sizov, one of the best pianists in Russia and definitely the best in St.Petersburg, and Gasan Bagirov, one of Russia's best guitarists. Young and very talented vocalist Yulia Kasyan who was brought up in a jazz philharmonic and has won international contests and many festivals, will be the biggest discovery for many. She has been appreciated and recognised by many audiences, not only in St.Petersburg.

— How are you preparing forKoktebel?

— I'm against prepared performances in jazz. Jazz is a spontaneous art. What's more, my band rehearses very rarely. We might be considering new material and familiarizing ourselves with it but it won't be a rehearsal. The word ‘rehearsal' is not appropriate for jazz. Jazz is born when you play it, so, we only use techniques that go way back, to New Orleans where jazz was born.

— You play many instruments. Which instrument will you play at Koktebel?

— Primarily, the violin, which is an extremely rare jazz instrument, especially in Russia, and flugelhorn. Sometimes I play keyboards, the piano, but I think that at Koktebel I'll mostly be playing those two.

— What do you hope for the Koktebel Jazz Party audience?

— I wish them great weather throughout the festival and, of course, a great love for jazz which they already have and cherish. I hope this is how we will meet at this wonderful festival.